Hyderabad: While the country is preparing for Lockdown 4.0, shutdown extended for the fourth time, to check the spread of coronavirus, a fake roadmap is circulating in WhatsApp groups. The message claims that the Government of India has set up a five-phase roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions.

The message which gives the dates of each phase also claims each phase will be for a three-week duration and that the first phase will commence on May 18, when the current lockdown period is said to end.

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“Government’s roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions will be set out in 5 phases. These phases will be on 3-week review process, the current phases would commence on the following dates:

Phase 1 – 18th May

Phase 2 – 8th June

Phase 3 – 29th June

Phase 4 – 20th July

Phase 5 – 10th August

If coronavirus cases begin to increase, we will revert to the restrictions set out in the previous stage.”

The message also reads that outdoor public amenities and tourism sites may reopen in the first phase.

However, the Press Information Bureau of India has clarified the claim to be false. It further said the road map might belong to some other country but not India.

“Claim: A so-called 3-week, 5-phase “roadmap”, purportedly made by the government, to ease COVID-9 India restrictions is being circulated on Whatsapp. PIB Fact Check: Fake news. This roadmap is not made by our government, but by that of some other country,” confirmed the central government.

In an address to the nation, on May 12, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had hinted on ‘Lockdown 4.0’. He said the new rules of Lockdown 4.0 will be out before May 18. “After discussing with the state governments, a new approach to
Lockdown 4.0 will be decided,” said Modi.

Result

No, the Indian Government has not introduced a five-phase roadmap to combat Covid-19.

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Dheeshma Puzhakkal

Dheeshma Puzhakkal is currently a Reporter with Newsmeter. An alumnus of Hyderabad Central University, she has interned with Greater Kashmir newspaper and NDTV. Dheeshma has also made short films and documentaries. Her documentary ‘Still I Rise’, which is based on sex-trafficking in Hyderabad’s Old City, has earned accolades in several film festivals, such as International Documentary and Short Film Festival, Kerala (IDSFFK). An avid foodie, she loves to travel and listen to stories that others tell. Photography is one of her all-time interests. She has extensively written on satellite-based journalism, health, consumer, and data stories besides covering anti-crime investigative agencies.